Found out my old flip phone from 2005 sent location data to the carrier every 15 minutes

I was cleaning out a box of junk and found my ancient Nokia. For some reason, I looked up the old user manual online. Buried in the fine print on page 42, it stated the phone transmitted its cell tower location to the network every quarter hour for 'network optimization'. I always thought that level of constant tracking was a smartphone thing. Makes you wonder what else was quietly logging back then. Did any other old devices have hidden reporting like this?

3 comments

3 Comments

dixon.james1mo ago

Remember those old GPS units for your car? I bet they were phoning home with your favorite taco bell locations too. Makes my old iPod feel like a snitch now.

daniel_gonzalez1mo ago

Ever wonder if those old GPS companies sold our route data to insurance firms? A sudden spike in late night Taco Bell stops could have made our premiums go up without us ever knowing.

lily571mo ago

Daniel, maybe they just wanted better taco ads.